The Petroleum Centre Daily Record

The Drive Wells Swindle.
We understand that a man named Green has been sending agents through the country trying to collect a claimed royalty of from five to ten dollars on drive wells, alleging that the right to use the same is covered by a patent obtained by him in 1868. The game has been tried to quite an extent in this vicinity, and a number victimized. We have received a circular from a perfectly responsible firm saying that this attempt at collecting a royalty is an unmitigated swindle. The drive well principle is an old device, and is not covered by any patent. The parties attempting this blackmailing operation have been put to the test in court several times and have never dared to let the matter come to trial. We advise our readers to pay no attention to any one claiming a bonus on drive wells for there is little danger of their submitting their claims to a legal tribunal.—Corry Republican.
The individual in question succeeded in victimizing quite a number in this vicinity, by threatening to prosecute them if they did not "come down with the stamps." It has the appearance of a blackmailing operation throughout.